WINNING COMBO OF BOOKS AND BRAWN

Best of the best honored as top scholar-athlete in each winter sport

So the all-time scoring and rebounding leader for The Bishop’s School girls basketball team partnered with Santa Fe Christian’s James Lock to introduce the game to a troubled village in Uganda plagued by violence and drug abuse.

Roeper and Lock raised funds and helped organize a construction project in conjunction with the Children’s Heritage Foundation, building the first basketball court for the community.

“Seeing the smiles on their faces is honestly the best feeling in the world. I wouldn’t trade that for anything,” said Roeper, who has earned a 4.08 grade-point average at Bishop’s and will attend Columbia University.

For two weeks in August 2011, Roeper and others visited the village, bringing duffel bags stuffed with basketball equipment, uniforms and shoes for the teenagers. While there, the All-San Diego Section forward, who averaged 17.8 points and 11.5 boards a game, taught the kids the game of basketball.

“I enjoyed being able to do something I love with people that were so hungry to learn,” Roeper said. “They helped me fall back in love with basketball.”

Roeper plans to return this summer and is raising additional money for lights and bleachers on the court.

“They showed me that it’s much bigger than basketball,” she said. “It’s about helping others and making a difference.”

Roeper has been selected as one of six of U-T San Diego All-Academic Team Captains for winter sports. The Captain’s plaque represents each sport’s Academic Athlete of the Year.

In Sunday’s editions, U-T San Diego recognized 3,613 high school juniors and seniors as members of the All-Academic Team for maintaining a 3.0 or higher cumulative, weighted GPA while playing a California Interscholastic Federation-approved varsity sport.

Selection of the Captains, made by the U-T staff, was based on academic and athletic achievement and overall leadership.

Nick Vilett, boys soccer

Vilett has an affinity for competition.

When the second-team all-section goalkeeper isn’t sharpening his skills on the pitch for Granite Hills, he’s in the classroom experimenting.

“Destination imagination,” said Vilett, who carries a 4.87 GPA.

“It’s a very unique course that allows me and my classmates to compete in engineering competitions against people all over the world — Turkey, Europe etc.”

These competitions — composed of several different challenges — involve creating structures out of different materials such as bamboo.

“I want to study engineering so it’s right up my alley,” Vilett said.

“My teacher gives us the freedom to work and create what we want, so it’s fun. It’s definitely difficult during soccer season but definitely possible.”

In the fall, Vilett will be attending Purdue, Pittsburgh, Lehigh or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

“I have an opportunity to play at Rose-Hulman,” he said. “I’m meeting with the coach and we’ll go from there.”

Kibret Woldemichel, boys basketball

Woldemichel might be 5-feet-7, but the Mission Hills floor general has more bite than bark on the basketball court.

The second-team all-section point guard averaged 13.7 points a game, helping to lead the Grizzlies to a San Diego Section championship and the regional semifinals.

“With my size, getting into the paint is a challenge,” Woldemichel told the U-T. “I do handle the ball pretty well, but I had to work hard to refine that skill.”

In the classroom, Woldemichel also excels, producing a 3.79 GPA. He is undecided on where he will attend school in the fall but is intent on majoring in engineering.

“I’ve applied to a lot of the good schools,” said Woldemichel, whose parents came to the U.S. from Ethiopia in the 1980s. “I’d love to go to school and play on the West Coast, but I’ll play for anyone who wants me.”

Karly Zlatic, girls soccer

Zlatic had a decision to make.

Following her sophomore year, the La Jolla midfielder, who carries a 4.38 GPA, was presented with an impromptu offer when visiting East Coast colleges to determine her future.

Harvard wanted her, and coach Ray Leone asked for an early commitment. Now an all-section second-teamer who finished this season with 16 goals and 13 assists, Zlatic decided she needed more time.

Months later, Zlatic returned to Harvard during a special celebration — the school’s 375th anniversary. That was all she needed, committing to play soccer for the Ivy League university soon after.

Cory Woods, wrestling

Woods muscled his way through his senior year with ease.

The 162-pound Vista wrestler pinned subjects in the classroom and opponents on the mat en route to a 4.03 GPA, a third-place finish at the section Masters tournament and qualification for the state championships.

His favorite course is Algebra 2.

“It’s difficult every once in a while, balancing my studies and practice, but it’s manageable,” Woods said. “Being a student-athlete has certainly improved my time-management abilities. You learn how to maximize your time and work more efficiently.”

Woods is undecided on which university he will attend but hopes to continue wrestling.

“I’m going to visit a former coach of mine, and after I’ll probably decide which school is best for me,” Woods said. “I would definitely like to be a part of a college team, although I’m just not sure yet.”

Julia Hermann, girls water polo

Hermann’s résumé overflows with academic and athletic honors.

The Torrey Pines senior was named all-section after helping to guide the Falcons to a section Division I runner-up finish.

In the classroom, Hermann carries a 4.38 GPA, earning a scholarship to play water polo at Stanford.

Other accolades include being named Junior Olympics MVP in the 16U division and a Junior Olympics 16U All-America second-teamer in 2011 and 2012.